MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Three C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio and JB Charleston, South Carolina flew in personnel and supplies to assist MacDill AFB, Florida with recovery operations.
Forty-nine Airmen of the 621st Contingency Response Wing from JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst arrived at MacDill on September 12, to assist the base following Hurricane Irma.
The 621st CRW is an Air Mobility Command asset that is a mission ready, mobile force with units continuously on alert to deploy anywhere in the world in support of emergency operations.
“We are AMC’s premiere 911 group,” said Maj. Tom Leyden, contingency response element commander for the 321st Contingency Response Squadron. “Within 12 hours of notice we will get on the road and deploy anywhere in the world.”
The contingency response element deployed to MacDill includes aerial port, maintenance, and command post specialists. These Airmen are ready to support the 6th Air Mobility Wing and continue the AMC mission from MacDill.
“MacDill is fortunate to have minimal impact from Hurricane Irma, and the support from AMC partners is reassuring to our Airmen and their families,” said Col. April Vogel, 6th Air Mobility Wing Commander.
Postured to assist the base and the local community in anyway necessary, the contingency response element is prepared to stay at MacDill for up to 14 days.
“It’s been an honor to work with the 6th AMW and its Airmen,” said Leyden. “It’s been a fantastic opportunity to support the state and local community and we look forward to assisting as needed.”